We met in a parking lot when Kathy's dog, Petunia, ran over in front of me and did her business. Kathy was embarrassed and apologetic. I told her I liked dogs and that it was okay.

Kathy invited me for coffee and we went down the street to her favorite bakery, Gayle's, where we had the most memorable mochas and pastry of our lives. We met at Gayle's each morning for a week. Then it was time for Kathy to return to her home in Washington, as her summer vacation was over. This was in August of 2000.

There were to be many more romantic visits to Gayle's during the next year and a half. We will be married the first week in April.